Genius Regressor Makes Mythic Items

『The Real Culprit Behind Chairman Lee Suncheol’s Murder: Desperado?!』

『Executor of Desperado’s Core Member: The Sword Saint and the Night Hunter!』

『Top 3 Assassin Void Strider Daniel, Laid to Rest in Korea』

News headlines flooded the front pages. All of them focused on Daniel. It was no surprise. A member of the world’s top three assassins, and a core member of Desperado,

Daniel’s reputation was undeniably global. A middle-aged man with a sharp demeanor scanned these headlines.

“I don’t understand.”

Kim Muyeol turned his gaze away from the news-filled screen.

“Why did you give the credit to those two?”

He looked at the handsome man beside him, also scrolling through the news on his phone. The man with clear, defined features responded, “Too much hassle.”

Kim Shimun didn’t look up from his phone, shrugging nonchalantly.

“That’s ridiculous.”

Kim Muyeol scoffed.

“No matter how well you do, you’re still just a Platinum.”

“I know.”

“If someone like you takes down a Ranker, especially a core member of Desperado, the world would acknowledge you. And you’re saying you’re going to give up all that honor?”

Kim Muyeol’s unusually long-winded comments made Kim Shimun raise an eyebrow.

“Uncle, what are you curious about?”

Kim Shimun’s direct question made Kim Muyeol’s expression serious.

“How… how did you beat Daniel?”

“Ah! That’s what you’re curious about?”

Kim Shimun replied, nodding casually as if he finally understood. This made Kim Muyeol’s eyes twitch.

“Kim Shimun, this isn’t a joke. Daniel wasn’t an ordinary assassin.”

“I know. One of the top three assassins in the world.”

“Do you think that’s all? His stealth is top-rank globally. Even I couldn’t detect him…”

How did you?

Kim Muyeol barely managed to swallow his next words. However, Shimun, as if hearing them anyway, replied with a slight smile,

“It was just a favorable matchup.”

“Matchup?”

Kim Muyeol’s brows furrowed further with confusion at Kim Shimun’s succinct answer. No matter how he thought about it, there was no reason for Daniel to lose to Kim Shimun. The reason was simple.

‘Even if Daniel is the weakest among the top 3 assassins, he’s still one of the top 3.’

There are only three in the world. Even if his combat power is lower among them, ‘Especially in assassination, his stealth skills are optimized for overwhelming weaker opponents…’

That unparalleled stealth would be an overwhelming force against someone weaker.

Moreover, ‘A Diamond, maybe. But a Platinum would be incapable of dealing with the Void, wouldn’t they?’

Daniel’s attribute was the SS-rank Void Manipulation. Platinum ranks had minimal experience dealing with the Void. In essence, Daniel was tailored for massacring lower-ranked players.

Kim Shimun defeating him, ‘Just because of a favorable matchup?’

Even without considering stealth or Void skills, Daniel, as a Ranker, would overwhelm Platinum-ranked Kim Shimun in every aspect. Does this even make sense?

These emotions were written all over Kim Muyeol’s face, and then,

“Kim Muyeol, you’re a puzzling guy, aren’t you?”

A calm voice interrupted.

“Kim Shimun redirected the credit to Shihyuk and Jinwook fundamentally to divert Desperado’s attention.”

A middle-aged woman behind them clicked her tongue disapprovingly.

“Just the headline ‘Core Member Defeated by a Platinum’ would significantly damage the egos of those who thrive on their self-importance, just like you.”

Desperado, the world’s strongest villain organization, prided themselves on their global infamy.

“Of course, they would throw a massive fit to wipe away that disgrace. But by crediting Shihyuk and Jinwook, there’s no need for that, is there?”

Hearing this, Kim Muyeol frowned.

“Don’t act so high and mighty, Lee Yeonhee. I didn’t ask because I didn’t know that.”

He glared at Lee Yeonhee, who had now approached beside Kim Shimun.

However, “Well, then, if you know all that and still go fishing for details, what kind of malicious curiosity is that?”

Despite the murderous look from Kim Muyeol,

“If those psychos rampage in Korea, it’s bad for you as the head of the association, right? Isn’t it?”

Lee Yeonhee faced him calmly.

“Instead of showing some gratitude, you’re probing into how he managed it. Where’s your conscience?”

“Lee Yeonhee!”

Bang.

Kim Muyeol slammed the desk as he stood up. Even though the difference in level between Ranker Kim Muyeol and Lee Yeonhee, who recently recovered to Gold rank, was significant,

“Oh my~ How scary. Back when I was a Ranker, you only talked big. Now that I’ve lost some power, you’re even hitting desks?”

“Don’t be arrogant!”

“Yeah, strength is everything for Awakeners. Kim Shimun, I should join your guild too. How can I live like this?”

Lee Yeonhee responded to Kim Muyeol’s outburst with her usual nonchalance.

‘Aunt… You really don’t get along with Uncle, do you?’

It was a different side of the always motherly Lee Yeonhee. Kim Shimun, feeling a bit awkward, intervened with a slightly embarrassed smile.

“I’m fine, so both of you, please calm down.”

“Hmph. Consider yourself lucky.”

“Oh my~ Keep yapping.”

If he felt like he was looking at Shihyuk and Yujeong, now aged 24, would it be wrong?

Kim Shimun managed to calm the two adults down.

“Wow, I must be out of my mind, wasting time on such a brat…”

Shaking her head, Lee Yeonhee looked at Kim Shimun with a deep gaze. Then, “Kim Shimun.”

She grasped Kim Shimun’s hand, her lips quivering slightly before she spoke.

“…Thank you. For everything.”

Her voice trembled slightly.

“It’s nothing, Aunt. I just…”

Kim Shimun quickly denied it. But Lee Yeonhee shook her head, smiling softly.

“I heard everything from Yujeong about what my father did ten years ago…”

Although her eyes and mouth were smiling, to Kim Shimun, it seemed quite the opposite. Lee Yeonhee gently stroked Kim Shimun’s shoulder.

“You’ve always been a smart kid, even from a young age. You must have realized that my father was involved in the incident ten years ago.”

“Aunt…”

“And still, you chose not to say anything to me or Yujeong and tried to handle things with that brat.”

“Aunt, that’s—”

“Kim Shimun, I’m not blaming you.”

Lee Yeonhee bit her lip, trying to swallow something. She closed her eyes briefly and remained silent. Then, “It was out of concern for me and Yujeong, wasn’t it? I know that very well. I’m just… I’m just grateful for all of it.”

She smiled warmly.

“Knowing how much you suffered from that day, it makes me feel even more guilty.”

Eventually, “I should have been the one taking care of you, but instead, I collapsed…”

Transparent tears trickled down her cheeks. Kim Shimun, initially flustered, smiled softly.

“Aunt, I’m okay. I’m all right now, and everything from back then is resolved.”

He comforted the sobbing Lee Yeonhee. It wasn’t just empty words meant to console her.

‘I don’t have any mana incapacity or remnants from that incident ten years ago.’

He had healed his body, and mended relationships with his estranged siblings. Moreover, he had uncovered the truth behind the incident from ten years ago, and even avenged it.

While he hadn’t been the one to kill Chairman Lee Suncheol personally, ‘I never intended to let Chairman Lee live anyway.’

Only the hand of justice was different. One way or another, for the revenge over the incident ten years ago and for Yujeong’s sake, he never intended to let Chairman Lee live.

Sensing the genuineness in Kim Shimun’s eyes, “…Honestly, I don’t know who you take after to be so kind.”

Lee Yeonhee shed tears but smiled warmly.

“Tch. Such nonsense.”

A cold voice echoed in the background. Ignoring it completely, Lee Yeonhee adjusted Kim Shimun’s disheveled clothes caused by hugging her.

“Anyway, Shimun? I won’t let this matter end with just words.”

“Aunt, I didn’t do this expecting a reward. Besides…”

I was planning to kill your father myself. Kim Shimun swallowed the rest of his words. But Lee Yeonhee seemed to understand anyway, nodding silently with a mix of understanding and bittersweet smile.

A moment of silence passed. Kim Shimun quietly held Lee Yeonhee’s hands.

‘This situation must be hardest on Aunt.’

As a child, Kim Shimun had heard stories about Lee Yeonhee from his father.

‘Before getting married, she and Chairman Lee had a harmonious father-daughter relationship.’

The efforts Chairman Lee made to place his daughter in the chairman role in a conservative society.

‘And then the man who cherished her tried to cripple her.’

Even though their relationship soured after her marriage. The joyful memories of her youth with her father couldn’t have just disappeared. The revelation of the truth behind the incident ten years ago must have been a tremendous shock.

‘And then her daughter Yujeong tried to kill her own grandfather because of that incident…’

Standing between her father and daughter, how Lee Yeonhee felt was beyond imagination.

Thus,

Swish.

Kim Shimun gently embraced the now smaller-than-he-remembered figure of his aunt. The Ranker who once dominated an era,

“Sniff…!”

crumbled in the silent comfort.

*

“So.”

A graceful yet clear voice resonated.

“You’re saying all I have to do is testify about Yujeong’s confession?”

In response to Lee Yeonhee’s question, Shimun nodded.

“Yes. While we have all the evidence and the perpetrator caught, it would be neater to clarify why she confessed to the crime.”

“But wouldn’t it be difficult for me to testify that I was threatened by Daniel? I’ve been going to work and the Arena normally.”

“Yes. That’s why I’ve prepared something.”

Kim Shimun opened his inventory and took out something. It was a small egg, emitting a dark purple aura.

“What’s that?”

“This is a poison refined from the Void.”

“A poison refined from the Void? The Void can be refined into something like that?”

“It’s possible.”

If you have several overpowered elements at your disposal. Kim Shimun swallowed those words and smiled softly.

“If you take this, you’ll experience some discomfort and a temporary decrease in stats.”

He offered it to her.

“But once you take the antidote I give you, you’ll recover quickly, with no lasting side effects.”

“My, you’re really skilled.”

Lee Yeonhee took the poison from Kim Shimun.

“If I take this and get examined at an Awakener hospital, that’ll be perfect?”

“Yes. The Void will be detected in your body, adding credibility to Yujeong’s confession about being threatened by Daniel.”

“So, that’s why you sent Yujeong to hold a press conference as soon as I arrived?”

“Yes, I’ve already discussed everything with Yujeong.”

Nodding, Shimun watched as Lee Yeonhee chuckled.

“I’m really glad you turned out to be such a kind child.”

“Pardon?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Just talking to myself.”

Smiling with her eyes, Lee Yeonhee tucked the poison into her clothes.

“I’ll take it and testify, so don’t worry about it.”

“Worry? I know exactly the kind of person you are, Aunt.”

“Hahaha! People might call me washed up, but you’re the only one who sees my worth?”

Laughing playfully, Lee Yeonhee continued naturally,

“Take care on your way back, and make sure to give me the antidote later, okay?”

“You got it, Aunt. Take care of yourself, and if you need any growth buffs, just let me know.”

“Oh my~ You’re so reliable~ Kim Shimun, I’ll definitely call you?”

“Anytime.”

As Kim Shimun left the association president’s office,

click.

Lee Yeonhee closed the door and turned around.

“Kim Muyeol.”

Her expression was now completely different from the one she had when seeing Kim Shimun off.

“Let’s talk.”

It was chilling.

TL’s Corner:
What are they going to talk about? Does Dohu know something?